With a professional working relationship spanning three decades, Gary F Martinez FAIA and Thomas E Johnson FAIA founded Martinez+Johnson Architecture in 1994 to bring their design sensitivities to institutional and cultural projects in urban locations. The 25-architect firm has since established an expertise in three main architectural areas – the restoration and adaptive reuse of historic structures, institutional buildings in urban areas and community settings, and the design and planning of performing arts venues.

Known for a thoughtful design approach to public facilities, M+J develops an intimate understanding of the needs of users, patrons, and operators destined to inhabit the projects of the firm. M+J looks to the future in their design aesthetic even when the context may be firmly rooted in the past and executes creative solutions to facilities both new and historic, where flexibility, ease of operation, and high but versatile performance characteristics are requisite. Venues express aspirational values and goals of the communities within which they are located, and at the same time conform to issues of economic value at the highest levels of environmental sustainability.

Saenger Theatre

Photos by Will Crocker

Saenger Theatre

New Orleans, Louisiana

The Saenger Theatre restoration embodies the best practices of historic preservation and achieves a new standard in urban development aimed at economic growth by providing a fully functional, multi-purpose performing arts facility. The theatre is an historic landmark and is a contributing historic building in what is one of the nine New Orleans historic districts.

Opportunity

Designed by the architect Emile Weil, the Saenger Theatre was constructed in two phases: the first phase included the Canal Street entrance and east-west arcade (1924), and the second phase included the cross (north-south) arcade and the theatre (1925 and 1927). The 4000 seat, atmospheric style theatre was completed in 1927 and was designed to attract a variety of performances including silent movies, drama performances, and musical performances by the Saenger Grand Orchestra and the 2000-pipe, Robert Morton theatre organ. This Atmospheric landmark was almost lost when storm waters from Hurricane Katrina rose eight feet above the stage, requiring immediate attention to save intact historic material. While pumping out flood water and ventilating the interior for almost a year, the owners formulated a recovery program using expanded federal and state preservation tax credits, New Market tax credits, and state tax credit programs aimed at the economic recovery of the cultural and entertainment arts.

Creation

The core of the project was the rehabilitation of the historic theatre, including public interior arcades, foyers, lobbies, and the audience chamber. The impressive exterior facades with its decorative masonry, terracotta elements, sidewalk canopies, and wrought iron work were also rehabilitated and new marquees, poster boxes, and storefronts were designed and executed in a manner resembling the original elements. Working under the Secretary of Interior’s Standards for the Rehabilitation of Historic Buildings, the historically significant spaces and their finishes were meticulously studied to determine the best process for rehabilitation. Historic photographs were often utilized as a guide to the appropriate design solutions. The theatre work also included improving the patrons’ comfort and overall experience. To this end, the seating lay-outs, acoustics, lighting, and front of house facilities were upgraded. The soft finishes in the theater, including the carpet, drapes, wall, and seat coverings were produced by specialty fabricators and the historic, ornamental lighting was restored, re-lamped and reinstalled. Any changes to the interior, necessary to accommodate handicap access, enlarged public facilities, and building code compliance, were designed and executed with a minimum impact to the historic fabric.